Barbara Gaynor

Barbara K. “Barb” Gaynor, 70, of Port Clinton, died peacefully on December 29, 2025, surrounded by family at St. Charles Hospital, in Oregon. The youngest of four children, Barb was born on October 27, 1955 in Toledo to parents Shirley R. (Stummer) and Robert B. Gradel Sr., who preceded her in death.

Barb attended Notre Dame Academy for two years, and after two additional years at Start High School, where she and David S. Gaynor became high school sweethearts, both graduated in 1973. Barb and Dave were married at St. Clement Catholic Church in Toledo on July 16, 1977.

Barb began her 25-year career with Owens-Illinois working first as a Secretary in Personnel Administration at O-I Headquarters in Downtown Toledo; then on to the Perrysburg Ink & Die plant, where she worked in Personnel Coordination, Customer Service, Sales and Service Coordination, followed by Barb becoming a traveling Ink & Die Sales Representative for the Northern Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Chicago-area box plant territories. Barb then came off the road to further her education, attending night classes and graduating with Highest Honors from the then-Owens Technical College, with an Associate Degree in Marketing and Sales. Barb moved on to O-I Glass, where she worked in Environmental Affairs, followed by her final move, to O-I Plastic Products as a Production Scheduler in their Maumee packaging plant, from which Barb retired due to personal illness.

Barb’s eventual recovery from illness was fostered by workshops in Calligraphy and Fine Arts painting, which became Barb’s next career.

Memberships in the Toledo Artists’ Club, Grand Rapids Women’s Art League, Bedford Artists’ Club, and the Port Clinton Artists’ Club enabled Barb to hone her watercolor & acrylic painting skills, and to market her art works through galleries, community art festivals, and other commercial settings in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

Barb is survived by husband Dave, who is eternally grateful to have been able to go through this world with her.

Barb loved her family and she was beloved by them, including surviving sisters, Susan E. Gradel of Northwood and Pamela J. (Thomas J. Sr.) Sniadecki of Curtice; brother, Robert B. Gradel Jr. of Oak Harbor; nephew, Thomas J. (Laura) Sniadecki Jr. of Rossford; nieces, Christy J. (Doug) Spegar of Bemus Point, NY and Kim M. (Wade) Goetz of Walbridge; great-niece, Ally M. Goetz of Vancouver, WA; and great-nephew, Miller T. Spegar of Bemus Point, NY.

Special thanks to the many physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, patient care aids, and support staff members for the compassionate care Barb received at: Magruder Hospital, Port Clinton; St Charles Hospital, Oregon; St Vincent’s Hospital, Toledo; Perrysburg Hospital, Perrysburg; Regency Long Term Acute Care facility, Oregon; St. Clare Commons Skilled Nursing facility, Perrysburg; and Orchard Villa Skilled Nursing facility, Oregon.

In accordance with Barb’s wishes, there will be no funeral service, and her cremated remains will be scattered by family in the springtime.